Category: Vanishing Ocean City

Rolling chairs were a familiar sight in Ocean City in 1920s and 1930s and were an early version of today’s Boardwalk tram. Many college students helped pay their tuition by pushing tourists up and down the Boardwalk in those wicker chairs on wheels.Rolling chairs originated in Atlantic City, N.J. and quickly made their way south…. Read more »

The 64th Street Super Market was the first strip shopping mall in what was in those days the lightly populated northern section of Ocean City.This photo, circa 1967, is from a postcard. The shopping center still exists but, thanks in part to the opening of the Route 90 Bridge in 1971, the surrounding area has… Read more »

Ocean City looked much different in this aerial photo taken in 1946 between 14thand 15th streets.The large building in the center was the original Commander Hotel before its second wing was added and the vacant space to its left is today the site of the Beach Plaza Hotel and its adjoining parking lot. The building to… Read more »

Fashions in the 1890s and early 1900s were far more formal than what can be seen in Ocean City today.In that era, people dressed up to stroll on the Boardwalk. Men wore hats and suits — or at least a coat and tie — and women wore long skirts, fancy hats and long-sleeved blouses. Many… Read more »

The first bridge to carry automobile traffic into Ocean City was approved by the Maryland General Assembly in 1916 but did not officially open until July 4, 1919.Known to locals as the “State Roads Bridge,” it had a single lane in each direction. It crossed the Sinepuxent Bay at its most narrow point and entered… Read more »

The Saute Cafe was a popular restaurant in rapidly growing north Ocean City in the early 1980’s. Located at 123rd Street and Coastal Highway, the Saute Cafe had developed a loyal following among both locals and numerous condominium owners in that section of town.Tragedy struck on July 16, 1983 when a fire broke out shortly… Read more »

The Jolly Roger Amusement Park began in 1963 as an Arnold Palmer Miniature Golf Course and Driving Range. At that time, the city limits ended at 41st Street and the area along the bayside at 30th Street was considered “way up the beach.” Owner Charles “Buddy” Jenkins added kiddie rides the next summer (including a train and… Read more »

Ocean City High School included grades 1-12 in the same building on the corner of 3rd Street and Baltimore Avenue until the fall of 1954 when the high school students moved to the new Stephen Decatur High School outside of Berlin. In the year prior to the move, all grades participated in special events such… Read more »

In the 1950s, a new town known as Ocean Beach was being promoted on the northern end of Assateague Island about five miles south of Ocean City.The development faced several problems, however, including access — there was no bridge to Assateague in those days and the small ferry could only carry three cars. Another problem… Read more »

The Knotty Pine Restaurant was located on Baltimore Avenue across from St. Mary’s Star of the Sea Catholic Church.Owned by Stacy and Kathryn Ludlam, it had the distinction of having Mattie Handy Robinson as one of its employees. Her brother, W.C. Handy, was known as the “Father of the Blues” and achieved international fame as… Read more »

Featured Stories

OCEAN CITY — After hours of debate, the Ocean City Council voted to set in motion a room tax increase to offset expected budget shortfalls and potentially fund increased economic development.During Tuesday’s work session, the debate over potentially increasing the room tax in Ocean City from the current 4.5 percent to an even 5 percent… Read more »

OCEAN CITY — As expected, the House of Delegates this week approved legislation reversing Gov. Larry Hogan’s mandate for a post-Labor Day start to the school year.In 2016, Hogan issued an executive order establishing a post-Labor Day start to the school year for public schools in the state. Despite some pushback from certain school districts… Read more »

BERLIN – The town’s planning commission delayed a decision on apartments proposed for the Purnell Crossing development in the wake of community concerns.When the Berlin Planning Commission met Wednesday to discuss a request to modify the Purnell Crossing planned unit development (PUD), they were greeted with a roomful of irate townhouse owners. After giving the… Read more »

OCEAN CITY — The resort’s parking task force met for the second time this week, but for the first time it became clear the intent of the comprehensive look at parking issues all over town centers on revenue.When the task force, appointed by Mayor Rick Meehan at the request of the council, met for the… Read more »